Potato-digger.



PATENTED JUNE 1, 1907.

a. HOLLAND. v POTATO BIGGER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1H: nouns PETERS ca, w4snmarou, n c

No. 855,457. PATENTED JUNE-4, 1907.

G. N. HOLLAND. POTATO BIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15,1906.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor m: Nomws PETERS C"..WA;HINGYON. n. c

They also prevent the material from falling over the ends of the extension 0 of the scoop while'passing to the conveyer.

In connection with the scoop and its inclined extension 0, I employ a rotary device for transferring the material sliding up the extension 0, to the carrying stretch of the conveyer. The said device comprises a shaft 0) journaled in suitable fixed bearings on the side plates 0 and rotated by suitable means, such as sprocket chains connecting sprocket wheels on the driving axle with sprocket Wheels on the shaft '2. To the shaft 'i are affixed arms i, which are flexible, and composed of resilient metal strips, bolted or otherwise affixed to the shaft 41, and preferably reinforced at their central portions by the shorter strips i The shaft 01 and its arms are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 90 in Fig. 1, the arrangement being such that the arms move over the upper portion of the extension 0 of the scoop in such proximity thereto as to encounter the material sliding up the scoop, and force said ma terial backwardly from the scoop onto the conveying stretch of the endless conveyer. The yielding construction of the arms 4 prevents injury to said arms in case they encounter a stone or other unusual obstruction in the mass of material whichpasses over the scoop. The arms i prevent any possibility of the clogging of the material at the upper portion of the scoop, and insure its continuous movement from the scoop to the conveyer. The rotary transferring device is located between the side plates 0 so that the latter guide the material which is being moved by the transferring device, and prevents such material from escaping laterally over the ends of the scoop extension 0.

The machine is provided with a series of guides or guiding rods j, which are located above the shaker or separator g, and are afiixed at their upper ends to the head of said separator, their lower portions being curved laterally, so that they guide the vines and weeds which are delivered by the conveyer to one side of the machine. The rods may be afiixed to the head of the separator by bending their end portions to form shanks j, which shanks are flattened and clamped rigidly attached to the side plates, the latter preventing the escape of material. over the edges of the conveyer and over the ends of the scoop-extension.

r 2. A potato digger comprising aframe having fixed vertical side plates, an endless conveyer located between said plates, and supported by a lower front roll and an elevated rear roll, an inclined scoop having an extension overhanging the lower roll of the conveyer, the said scoop and extension being rigidly attached to the side plates, and a rotary transferring device comprising a shaft j ournaled in the side plates above the extension, and resilient arms attached to the shaft, and adapted to force the materials raised by the scoop over the extension, the said transferring device and scoop-extension being located between the side plates, so that the latter guide the material moved by the transferring device over the scoopextension, and prevent said material from escaping laterally. In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE N. HOLLAND.

4 Witnesses:

HORACE ATwooD, GEo. W. E. BARROWS. 

